Turning Point Responds to Health Committee Report on Public Health

"Whilst we agree that the new public health plans for local
authorities make sense, we share the concerns raised by the Health
Committee of the lack of statutory duty on local authorities to
reduce health inequalities. For years the inverse care law
has meant that those who need help the most are the least likely to
get it. If we are to tackle this issue, it needs to be
regarded as a key priority by everyone responsible for the delivery
of public health.

"As they adopt their new responsibilities, it is also key that
local areas commission services based on clear evidence of
need. Turning Point's own experience shows that research into
local health and social care needs, including issues of public
health, is best done using a bottom up approach; by training
members of the local community to carry out a detailed analysis,
and getting them to work alongside commissioners in designing
appropriate services. We would encourage all local
authorities to carry out this kind of research before making key
decisions relating to public health.

"Turning Point has long argued the case for the integration of
social care and health, including public health. As such, we
support the need to integrate the first NHS and Social Care
Outcomes Frameworks with the Public Health Outcomes Framework.

"The report is right to focus on alcohol as a key national
public health issue but places little emphasis on drug addiction,
which also has huge cost to individuals and to society as a w
hole. Turning Point believes effective drug and alcohol
treatment is best delivered using an integrated model. As well as
delivering positive public health outcomes, integrated drug and
alcohol services also make communities much safer places to live
in. The government would do well to continue investing in
this kind of treatment as on its own, the new Responsibility Deal
is not enough."